Minnow trap



NOV. 27, 1951 J, B LEWIS 2,576,524

MINNOW TRAP Filed Jan. 16, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l 33 JOHN LEWISJ f j JBY/mffm l HTTORNEY.

Nov. 27, 1951 l J. B. LEWIS 2,576,524

MINNow TRAP Filed Jan. 1e, 194e 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR,

JOHN B. LEWIS) '/wj '41 la/Mmmm HTTORNEY Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE -e y 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a minnow trap and has for its primary object the provision of a structure which will attract and trap the maximum possible number of minnows in a given location. It has a further primary object in being able to selectively permit entrance into the trap of that size or sizes of minnows desired from relatively small sizes to large sizes.

A further primary object of the invention is to provide a structure of the type above indicated which may be relatively light and relatively inexpensively manufactured. These and many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in 'the following description of one particular form of the invention as illustrated in the accompanyng drawings in which Fig. l is a View in top plan and also partial section of a structure embodying the invention; Fig. 2, a view in side elevation in partial section;

Fig. 3, a View in top plan similar to that shown in Fig.1, but with the upper surface broken away in a different manner;

Fig. 4, a view in end elevation and partial section;

Fig. 5, a vertical section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6, a view in vertical section in detail on the line 6--6 in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, I form a rectangular construction having a oor I with upright, vertically disposed walls I I and I2. These Walls II and I2 are perforated or foraminous, and in the present showing. are made out of hardware cloth or wire screen, which restrict the vision of minnows therethrough. The floor I0 itself is preferably made solid, that is made out of sheet metal in order to give the desired rigidity to the entire structure.

The side Walls II and I2 are bound around their four edges by any suitable frame-work I3, herein shown as angle irons. The upper top edge portions of the side walls II and I2 are interconnected by a transverse strip I 4 of any suitable material, such as sheet metal. In the present showing, the ends of this strip I4 are spotwelded to the upper frame members I5 and I6 of the frame-work I3.

A mirror 60 having a mirror surface on both sides is vertically disposed centrally across between the two'side walls II and I2 under the center strip I4. The mirror B0 is interengaged by its vertical edge portions with the side walls II and I2 in such manner that the lower edge of the mirror 60 is spaced a distance above the floor I0 and the top edge of the mirror 60 is likewise spaced a distance below the strip I4.

CTI

The spacings ofthese top and bottom Aedges of. the mirror are made to be such that minnows or sh if desired may freely swim across, above and below the mirror Ei@ when the entire struce ture is submerged in water.

Hinged to the strip I4 on the one side thereof is a door II, and in like manner there is hinged to the other edge of the strip I4 the door I8. These two doors together with the strip I4l complete the enclosure across the top side ofthe structure between the side walls II and I2, this enclosure being co-extensive with the area of the oor I0 therebelow.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, I mount a piece of transparent material I 9 to have one vertical edge at the front vertical edge of the side wall II and the inner vertical edge positioned toward the center or" the oor I9 and spaced inwardly from its outer edge. In other Words, this piece of glass I9, glass being preferable because of its rigidity compared to Some other materials, al-

though plastics of the transparent nature mayv be employed, is positioned in a diagonal arrangement with the side of the structure. The essential requirement of the member I9 is that it be transparent. member I9 is maintained in close proximity to the side I I by means of pintles 2U and 2I so that the member I9 may be swung therearound either to the outer end of the floor II) or inwardly around against the side Il. In like manner, a member 22 also transparent is positioned to have its for- 1 ward vertical edge at the forward end of the side I2, that is the outer extreme end of that side. and is positioned there in the same manner as is the member I9 so that the member 22 may be swung around the hinged outer end. Both of these transparent members I9 and 22 occupy the entire vertical space between the floor II) and the upper door Il and partly under the transverse member I4 and form in effect a funnel converging toward the mirror 60. The inner opposing vertical edges of these members I9 and 22 .may be swung one toward the other. Fig. l, so that a desired spacing may be had therebetween throughout the entire height of both of these members. In practice, these members I9 and 22 maybe fixed in position to give the desired spacing between those ends, or they may be yieldingly spaced one apart from the other.

To accomplish these results, the member I4, Fig. 3, is provided with a slot 23 and also a slot 24, each in an arcuate form as determined by a center of curvature located on the hinge axes of The slots 23 and 24 are located adjacent the vertical inner ends of these members I9 and 22. While the members I9 and 22 may be xed in position by any suitable means, one particular form of such fixing is shown herein as consisting of a stud 25 The outer corner or edge of the fixed to the upper edge of the member I9 adjacent its inner end to extend upwardly in a sliding manner through the slot'23 to receive screwthreadedly thereon a wing nut 26 from the top side of the member I4. Then in like manner a stud 21 is fixed to the member 22 adjacent its inner vertical edge to extend upwardly through the slot 24 in a sliding manner and to receive thereon screw-threadedly the wing vnut 28. By running down these nuts 26 and 28 against the top side of the member I4, the members I9 and 22 may thus be held in fixed manner. In other words, by shifting the studs 25 and 21 along the. respective slots 23 and 24 the spacing between the members I9 and 22 at their inner vertical edges may be variedv To provide for the yielding spacing, the nuts 2B and 28 may be loosened to allow the respective studs 25 and 21 to slide freely in their slots 23 and 24. Then a spring 30 interconnects the two inner ends ofthe members I9 and 22. In the form herein shown, Fig. l, the spring 30 is interconnected with those members I9 and 22 through eye-hooks 3l and 32 fixed respectively to the members I 9 and 22.

In like manner, transparent plates 33 and 34 have their outer' ends hingedly positioned toward the outer ends of the side walls II and I2, those ends being opposite to the ends toward which the members I9 and 22 are positioned.

These two members 33 and 34 normally slope inwardly between the walls I'I and I2 to approach each other under the cross member I4 to leave the vdesired spacing therebetween, forming a funnel converging toward said mirror E0. members 33 and 34 may be adjustably swung one toward the other and the spacing therebetween xed in the same manner as was above described in reference to the members I9 and 22, the stud 35 being xed to the member 33 and the stud 36 being xed to the member 34 to extend vertically upwardly through the respective slots 31 and 38 provided in the member I4 and to receive from theirupper ends the wing nuts 39 and 40 to screw-threadedly engage therewith. Likewise if desired, these members 33 and 34 may be yieldingly spaced apart by the spring member 30 applied in the same manner as described above in reference to the members I9 and 22.

To use the construction, the box-like structure formed in accordance with the above description is placedV within the water at any suitable point where minnows or sh are to be encountered. The inclined members I9 and 22 on the one end and'33, 34 on the other end are initially adjusted to give the desired vertical spacing therebetween at their inner ends, unless they are to be left to be yieldingly spread apart through the intervention of the spring, 3l).V Then minnows or fish approaching the device, particularly from the open ends of the structure, can see through the various members I9, 22 and 33, 34 to have their images reflected from the interior mirror 60. It seems that this reflection attracts the minnows and fish to such an extent that they will persist in trying to get through the transparent members with the result that they will nose along and inwardly of the box-like structure until they come to the inner vertical opening between the respective pairs of members and thus pass within the confines of the side walls and the top and bottom members. The spacing of the inner ends of the respective pairs of members will of course determine the size of fish or minnows which are These permitted to enter within the trap. Of course, the small ones can enter in along with the possible maximum size of sh permitted. When the members I9, v22 and 33, 34 are yieldingly spaced apart by reason of the spring 39',` then should a large sh happen to strike kthe respective members, it might force its way on through without breaking or damaging the transparent members, and moreover when once within the trap, it can not escape back through the opening which is then smaller than it was when the fish forced its entrance between the respective pairs.

The doors I1 and I8 on the top side of the trap are normally retained in their closed position by any suitable means such as by the elastic hooks 4I` and 42 which are secured to the respective doors I1 and I8 and hook down over the cross members 43 and 44 which join together the upper outer corners of the side walls II and I2. Where the spring 30 is desired to be used, it is initially under tension by reason of the posts which extend upwardly from the transparent members being at the inner opposing ends of the respective slots 23, 24 for example. For convenience in handling, a handle 45 is xed to the center transverse member I4. The minnows or sh may be removed from the trap by opening either or both doors I1 and I8 and then tipping the trap up on to a corner to allow the minnows to slide out at the corner between one of the walls I I or I2 and the respective diagonally positioned transparent member I9 or 22 at the one end or 33 or 34 at the. v

other end.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in the one particular form, it is obvious that structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, Vand I therefore do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations which may be imposed by the following claim.

low said mirror; and a transparent-walled funnel l,

forming an entrance to said box, the -walls of said funnel converging to a minnow sized opening in front of and spaced from said mirror, the sides.

of said funnel being smooth.

K JOHN B. LEWIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date i f 198,894 McBryde 'Jan. 1, 1878 731,398 Watson June 16,1903 744,903 Cahoon Nov. 24, 1903I 1,743,036 Jetton Jan. '1, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1 171,847 Germany Jan. '1, 1906 33,549 Sweden Sept. 25,I 19.12 

